Australian Natural Resources Atlas

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Rangelands - Overview

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Location map of Einasleigh Uplands bioregionphotograph

Einasleigh Uplands

Summary

ATSIC Boundaries

Catchment Basins

Statistical Local Areas

Introduction

The Einasleigh Uplands bioregion includes about 118,500 sq. kms of land within Queensland. The bioregion lies across the Great Dividing Range in northeast Queensland and is characterised by ranges and plateaux. The major population centres include Charters Towers, Mareeba, Croydon and Georgetown. The climate of the bioregion is hot to warm with dry winters.

Natural Environment

Climate

The bioregion has a tropical climate with high rainfall summers and drier winters. The mean summer temperatures range from 20.1° C - 36.5° C. The mean winter temperature for the bioregion ranges from 11° C - 25.4° C.

Extensive rainfall in the summer is associated with the passage of tropical cyclones across the coast. The bioregion receives an average annual rainfall between 400mm and 1000mm. The average annual rainfall decreases from north to south and with distance from the coast.

Climate averages are available for Mareeba: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/map/climate_avgs/a31.shtml.

Temperature and rainfall graphs are available for Georgetown: www.bom.gov.au/climate/forms/map_forms/new_imagemaps/qld_name.html.

Current seasonal conditions and their historical context can be provided by satellite imagery. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a measure of the vegetation ‘greenness’. The NDVI for the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion for this year and previous years can be found at: http://www.environment.gov.au/erin/ndvi/ttrace/eiu.html.

For additional climate information the Queensland Department of Natural Resources ‘The Long Paddock’ at: www.dnr.qld.gov.au/longpdk provides seasonal variability information and the latest El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) information. ‘Silo’ at: www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/climate/#silo provides agro meteorological data, such as rainfall, temperature, radiation, climate outlook products. The Queensland Department of Natural Resources’ Patched Point Dataset and Data drill at: www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/silo/index.html, provides information on climatic risk management in agriculture, pastoralism, water resources and natural resource management.

The bioregion consists of a series of rugged hills and ranges, dissected plateaus and alluvial and sand plains. The Atherton Tableland lies in the northeast of the bioregion. The bioregion straddles the Great Dividing Ranges, streams draining to the east form the catchment of the Burdekin River. The streams west of the divide flow into the catchments of the Flinders, Gilbert and Mitchell Rivers into the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The Einasleigh Uplands bioregion has a complex geology. The bioregion comprises three main provinces, Georgetown Block in the west, Hodgkinson Fold Belt in the north and the Lachlan Fold Belt in the south and central areas. The Georgetown Block consists of Proterozoic (545-250 million years ago) sediments and volcanics are overlain by Permian (251-298 million years ago) volcanics. The Hodgkinson Fold Belt is dominated by Early Palaeozoic to Triassic (205-490 million years ago) sediments and volcanics. The Lachlan Fold Belt is a complex province of Proterozoic to Early Permian (251-490 million years ago) marine and continental sediments, volcanics and granites. Cainozoic (less than 65 million years ago) basalt flows are the youngest flows in Australia. The lava flows within the Undara Volcanic National Park are the longest lava tunnel system in world. Associated with the lava flows in the south of the bioregion are springs and spring fed wetlands.

For more detailed geological information and map refer to the Australian Geological Survey Organisation website: www.agso.gov.au/map/ and the Department of Mines and Energy, Queensland: www.dme.qld.gov.au/gsd/index.htm.

The soils of the bioregion are predominantly shallow soils and loamy lithosols. Areas of alluvial sands and clays occur in the west of the bioregion. Red-black soils developed on the basalt occur in the south.

For further information on soils refer to Galloway et al (1970), Grundy & Bryde (1989), Perry et al (1964) and Sattler & Williams (1999) and the Digital Atlas of Australian Soils at:

www.affa.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=D2C48F86-BA1A-11A1-A2200060B0A05758

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The undulating hills and ranges of the bioregion are dominated by woodlands of georgetown box (Eucalyptus microneura) with areas of narrow-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra) and broad-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus shirleyi). Small woodland areas of Reid River box (Eucalyptus brownii), Molloy red box (Eucalyptus leptophleba) and Cullen’s ironbark (Eucalyptus cullenii) occur on the surrounding slopes and lower areas. The basalt soil in the central and southern areas of the bioregion support ironbark (Eucalyptus spp.) woodlands and mountain coolibah (E. orgadophila) open woodlands. The wetter climate in the east supports open forests including ironbark (Eucalyptus drepanophylla) and lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora). River red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) occur along large water courses Cumming (1992), Galloway et al (1970), Nelder & Clarkson (1995) Perry et al (1964) and (Sattler & Williams, 1999).

Endemic flora includes the cycad (Cycas couttsiana) and a number of dry rainforests species such as Atalaya calcicola and Alectryon tropicus. Endemic heath and woodland species east of Herberton include mottled gum (Eucalyptus pachycalyx), the purple flowering wattle (Acacia pupureipetala) and Grevillea glossadenia (Sattler & Williams, 1999).

About 62 flora species are listed as rare and threatened, of which the Plectranthus minutus and the Tylophora rupicola are considered endangered. For a list of rare and threatened flora and vegetation descriptions of the bioregion refer to Sattler & Williams (1999).

The bioregion contains more species of rock wallaby (Petrogale spp.) than anywhere else in Australia. The springs and spring fed wetland systems provide significant water bird breeding and feeding areas and a refuge for fauna such as the freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni) (Sattler & Williams, 1999).

About 38 fauna species are listed as rare and threatened, of which the western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii geoffroii) is thought to be extinct. The skinks (Lerista vittata and Lerista cinerea) are considered to be vulnerable. For a list of rare and threatened fauna and fauna surveys refer to Sattler & Williams (1999).

Some bird species have had losses or marked reduction in numbers, particularly the star finch (Neochimia ruficauda) and Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae). Many birds have benefited from human activity in the region including the brown quail (Coturnix ypsilophora), peaceful dove (Geopleia striata), pheasant coucal (Centropus phasianus), singing bushlark (Mirafra javanica) and Richard’s pipit (Antus novaeseelandiae) (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.).

Land Tenure & Use

Most of the region is leasehold land, although areas of freehold are widespread on the Atherton Tableland, and the southeast near Charters Towers.

The bioregion has a number of nature reserves, these include, Bulleringa National Park (54,000ha), Chillagoe-Mungana Caves National Park (1870 ha), Dalrymple National Park (1640 ha), Forty Mile Scrub National Park (6180 ha), Great Basalt Wall National Park (35,200 ha), Hann Tableland National Park (4839 ha), part of Lumholtz National Park, Porcupine Gorge National Park, Undara Volcanic National Park and Palmer River Goldfields Resource Reserve. For more information on the national parks refer to: www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/park/discover/.

The major land use is extensive grazing although there are some localised areas used for mining, cropping and horticulture. Clearing on the Atherton Tablelands on the eastern margin of the bioregion has been widespread. Clearing of land is usually associated with cropping or horticulture and is mainly restricted to freehold land (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.).

Condition Of The Landscape

Land degradation

Inland rainforest patches have been reduced by clearing and affected by weeds. (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.). However as a whole clearing is minor except on the freehold land. Generally speaking the ground flora is relatively intact (Sattler & Williams 1999)

The State-wide Landcover And Tree Study (SLATS) undertaken by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, provides vegetation cover and cover change information using Landsat Thematic Mapper ™ satellite imagery. SLATS provides baseline land cover mapping over the entire State of Queensland (www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/veg/slats/index.html).

Extensive pastoralism has resulted in fewer perennial forbs and a reduced abundance of some native perennial grasses such as scented top (Capillipedium spp.) and rat’s tail grass (Sehima nervosa) as well as a major impact on lizards, ants and some bird, mammal and spider species (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.).

Activities from mining such as tailing dams and proliferation of access track are affecting the conservation value of some areas.

Feral cats and pigs can be found throughout the bioregion, having a severe effect on the biodiversity by preying on native animals. Pigs also cause damage by digging up the country to create wallows. Cane toads are found in wetter sectors of the region, with impacts on both its predator and prey populations. Isolated populations of horses, rabbits, foxes and goats are reported in the bioregion. Other feral species include hares, domestic pigeons, spice finches and Indian mynas. Rabbits and house mice reach high densities occasionally (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.; www.savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/savannaexplorer.html).

Several weed types infest the bioregion, including vines, grasses, toxic shrubs, water weeds and grasses. The main vine weed is the rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora) from Madagascar, which forms huge impenetrable tangles. Main grass pests include), giant rats tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis) and grader grass (Themeda quadrivalvis). Lantana (Lantana camara) is of particular concern for the dry rainforest communities. Some rivers and riverbanks are infested with the floating fern salvinia (Salvinia molesta) and para grass (Brachiaria mutica) (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.).

For detailed information on the weed species refer to the Tropical savanna website: www.savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/savannaexplorer.html.

Social & Economic Aspects

People

The main centres within the bioregion are Charters Towers (pop.8893), Georgetown (pop. 298), Mareeba (pop.6874). Charters Towers lies within the Burdekin River valley and on the cross roads of the Flinders Highway and the Gregory Development Road. The town of Georgetown lies approximately equidistant between the Gulf of Carpentaria and the coast of Far North Queensland. Mareeba is located on the Atherton Tablelands.

In 1844-1845 the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt travelled through the basalt country within the bioregion and, then swung towards the western side of Cape York Peninsula.

Gold was discovered in 1871 at Tower Hill in Charters Towers and almost 7 million ounces of gold were been extracted until 1911. In the mid 1880s over 150 mines were in operation. The beef cattle industry was established to support the boomtown and is now a pastoral centre, which services the bioregion.

The local governments of Cook, Mareeba, Herberton, Etheridge, Dalrymple and Flinders cross the bioregion. The bioregion is within the ATSIC region of Townsville (McLennan, 1997). For more information on the Aboriginal people of this region refer to Horton, (1994) and the relevant websites in the reference list.

Resources, References & Contacts

Publications

Cumming, R. (1992) A reconnaissance map of the vegetation of the central-eastern and south-eastern Einsasleigh Uplands. Internal Report, Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage, Townsville.

Galloway, R.W., Gunn, R.H. and Storey, R. (1970). Lands of the Mitchell-Normanby Area, Queensland. Land Research Series No. 26. CSIRO, Australia.

Grundy, M.J. and Bryde, N.J. (1989). Land Resources of the Einasleigh_Atherton Dry Tropics. Queensland Department of Primary Industries Project Report QO89004, Brisbane.

Horton, D. R. 1994, The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia, Aboriginal Studies Press for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra, ACT.

Land Planning and Management 1998, ‘DNR Land Facts’, Land Planning and Management, Department of Natural Resources, Queensland.

McLennan. W. 1997, 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey: Social Atlas, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, ACT.

Morton, S.R., Short, J., & Barker, R.D. with an Appendix by Griffin, G.F., & Pearce, G. 1995, Refugia for Biological Diversity in Arid and Semi-arid Australia, Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, Canberra, ACT

Nelder, V.J. and Clarkson, J.R. (1995). Vegetation Survey and Mapping of Cape York Peninsula. Cape York Peninsula Land Use Study, Office of the Co-ordinator General and Department of Environment and Heritage, Government of Queensland, Brisbane.

Perry, R.A., Sleeman, J.R., Tindale, C.R., Prichard, C.E., Slatyer, R.O., Lazarides, M. and Collins, F.H. (1964). General Report on Lands of the Leichhardt-Gilbert Area, Queensland, 1953-54. CSIRO, Land Research Series No. 11, Melbourne.

Sattler, P. & Williams, R. (eds.) 1999, The Conservation Status of Queensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane, Queensland.

Thackway, R. & Cresswell I.D. 1995, An Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation for Australia: a Framework for Setting Priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program, Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra, ACT.

Woinarski J., Fensham, R., Whitehead, P. & Fisher, A., with map production by Verhagen, C. in preparation, Biodiversity in the Australian Rangelands: a Review of Changes in Status and Threatening Processes. Draft report prepared as a resource document for Project 3: Developing an Adaptive Framework for Monitoring Biodiversity in Australia’s Rangelands, of the National Land and Water Resources Audit, Theme 4 (Rangelands monitoring) by the Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre, Darwin, Northern Territory.

Aboriginal languages of Australia:

http://www.dnathan.com/VL/

Aboriginal Studies WWW Virtual Library:

http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-Aboriginal.html

Australian Landcare Council:

www.dpie.gov.au/agfor/landcare/org/alc.html.au

Aboriginal Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC):

www.atsic.gov.au/

Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Geology of Australia:

www.agso.gov.au/map/

Bureau of Meteorology, Climate averages:

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/map/climate_avgs/a31.shtml

Bureau of Meteorology, Temperature and rainfall graphs: www.bom.gov.au/climate/forms/map_forms/new_imagemaps/qld_name.html

Bureau of Rural Sciences, Digital Atlas of Australian Soils:

www.affa.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=D2C48F86-BA1A-11A1-A2200060B0A05758

Department of Mines and Energy, Queensland:

www.dme.qld.gov.au/gsd/index.htm

Department of Environment and Heritage, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) information including bioregional information:

http://www.environment.gov.au/erin/ndvi/

Murray-Darling Basin Soil Information:

www.brs.gov.au/mdbsis

National Property Management Planning Campaign, The Future profit program:

www.dpi.qld.gov.au/ruraldev/futureprofit/Welcome.html

Queensland Department of Natural Resources. ‘Long Paddock’:

www.dnr.qld.gov.au/longpdk

Queensland Department of Natural Resources. ‘Silo’:

www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/climate/#silo

Queensland Department of Natural Resources. Patched Point Dataset and Data drill:

www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/silo/index.html,

Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency. National Park information, animal and plant species information including rare and threatened species:

www.env.qld.gov.au

Queenslands Parks and Wildlife Service:

www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/park/discover/

Rural Lifestyles Queensland:

www.rlq.dcilgp.qld.gov.au

State-wide Land cover and Tree Study (SLATS) Vegetation cover and cover change information using Landsat Thematic Mapper ™ satellite imagery:

www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/veg/slats/index.html

Tropical Savanna Co-operative Research Centre:

www.savanna.ntu.edu.au/information/savannaexplorer.html

Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.

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